According to science teacher Chris Cucuzzella, Loyola's Environmental/Outdoor Club will be organizing four seperate hikes for students through the Maryland section of the Appalachian Trail this year.
The trips are being offered to both high school and middle school students and will not only teach students the basics of hiking (i.e. how to read a topographic map and compass skills), but will also inform students about Leave No Trace, an environmental program that encourages and trains hikers and campers to leave minimal impact on public recreational areas.
The idea to host these hikes was thought up and encouraged by several faculty members over the summer break.
The first hike is scheduled for Monday, October 8th. The second hike is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, November 4th. Space is limited, so contact Mr. Cucuzzella at ccucuzzella@loyolablakefield.org or Mr. Bromwell at rbromwell@loyolablakefield.org for permission slips as soon as possible. Parents and alumni interested in chaperoning a hike are more than welcome to contact Mr. Cucuzzella or Mr. Bromwell as well.
Other activities that the Environmental Club has been involved with include promoting Ride Your Bike to Work Day last spring and participating in the Maryland Department of Natural Resources "Bay Grasses in the Classes" program, which educated students about the environmental issues facing the Chesapeake Bay.
This is also a special time for the Appalachian Trail in Maryland, as the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam is celebrated this year.